A life-sized bird craft can bring a favorite bird inside to enjoy anytime.
Certain birds have come to symbolize certain feelings---whether it is the joy of seeing the first robin of the spring, the feeling of freedom evoked by a soaring eagle or a dove's universal message of peace. Even common backyard birds can bring pleasurable feelings with their bright colors and melodic songs. There are a number of ways to create life-sized birds from craft materials so the winged creatures can be enjoyed even on the dreariest day.
Paper Mache Birds
A paper mache flamingo will liven up any unused corner.
Bend a piece of chicken wire into the shape of a bird. If needed, use small pieces for the wings or beak and attach them to the main frame. Saturate 1-inch wide strips of newspaper in a paste made of 2 cups of water and 1 cup of flour. Wrap the strips around the frame, overlapping the strips as you work. Let the newspaper dry, then paint the bird with acrylic paint. For finishing touches, add craft feathers and eyes.
Caged Bird
Make your own craft version of a canary in a cage.
Mix ¼ cup of flour into a cup of water. Stir this mixture into 1 cup of boiling water. Simmer for three minutes to make a simple glue. Blow up a round balloon. Next dip five yards of yarn into the cooled glue, then wrap it around the balloon to look like a cage. Once it has dried, pop the balloon. Cut a bird shape from heavy paper. Decorate it with small squares of tissue paper folded around a pencil eraser, then dabbed in glue. Glue the bird to a stick perch with twine tied on both ends. Maneuver the perch inside the cage and attach it by the twine.
Fly-Away Birds
Any kind of bird can be made from paper or felt to look as if it is flying.
Find a template that is a profile of a bird in flight and a separate template of the bird's soaring wings. Cut one of each from heavy paper or stiff felt. Cut a horizontal slit into the body. Slide the wings into the slit so they are perpendicular to the body and the bird looks as if it is in flight. Fasten if needed with tape or glue. The wings can also be made from paper folded accordion style, slipped into place and then fanned out. Hang the bird by a loop of fishing line secured just above the wings.
Toilet Paper Roll Bird
A toilet paper tube can be used as the base of a life-sized bird.
Find a template of a bird looking straight at you with its wings outstretched. Cut it into body, wing and head pieces. Using heavy paper, trace around the body, extending it on both sides so it can be wrapped around and glued to a toilet tissue roll. Next make the wings, adding tabs to insert into a slit made on either side of the tube. Create the bird's head, cutting a tab along the bottom. Glue this tab around the inside of the top of the tube. Add finishing touches of feet, beak, eyes and a tail.
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